Long Beach Police Department seeks approval to sell 2 helicopters

LONG BEACH - The Long Beach Police Department will seek City Council approval Tuesday to sell two helicopters for $1.55 million.

The Eurocopter EC-130B4 helicopters were bought in 2001 for $5.76 million and went into service the following December.

Police purchased two replacement Eurocopter AS350B-2 AStar helicopters in February 2011 for $3.52 million from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The acquisition was intended to reduce operating costs by 42 percent - from $768 per hour to $448, according to a staff report - and allow the department's Field Support Division to increase its flight hours.

Police Administrative Bureau Chief Braden Phillips said the flight schedule has been held to about 20 hours weekly.

"We haven't made any changes based on our expectations," Phillips said. "We want to see what those actuals are going to be."

The city initially received three bids for the rotorcraft in September, but deemed them too far below the appraised $3.24 million. The winning bid was received on Dec. 8 from a Canadian man.

Phillips called the price a reflection of economic conditions and speculated that a dip in tourism played a role in low demand for the helicopters.

Funds exchanged in the sale and purchase of police helicopters go through the department's asset forfeiture fund.

Council members will also be asked Tuesday to enter into a contract with Paradies-Long Beach LLC for food and beverage services at the Long Beach Airport's new passenger concourse.

The company would invest $4.34 million in capital to open two restaurants, one speciality restaurant and two retail shops at the concourse.